3: Meet Mr. Beaumont

"Don't you think it's better if I cover my face like Analiese does? You know, so that she won't have a problem later on."

I turned away from the mirror to look at Peter. He was sitting on the sofa.

I just dressed up for my dinner with Mr. Beaumont. Well, I didn't do it on my own. Peter brought some maidservants to attend to me earlier. When everything was done, I almost couldn't recognize myself. My hair was dyed to brown and the dress I wore was really far from my clothes. I can say that I am a lot more presentable now than I was.

"Mr. Racini think that it's better if Analiese has a face. What do you think will the people say if Mr. Beaumont marries a woman without a face? He will receive humiliation, and so does Mr. Racini. It will be bad for the business, so it is better this way."

"They won't have a problem now, but what about later on? People will discover that it was only a play."

"Mr. Racini will take care of that. He has plans," he assured me.

I didn't ask more and just kept my own thoughts to myself.

It was six in the evening when Peter and I left. It was a relief that he will come with me, but the relief was shortlived when I realized that he won't be joining the dinner and I will be alone with Mr. Beaumont the whole time.

Although Peter had briefed me about the situation, I'm still worried of how I would talk to Mr. Beaumont. The anxiety I was feeling intensified when Peter led me inside an expensive hotel.

I was busy organizing my thoughts while we were on our way to the private room of the restaurant in that hotel. I wanted to ask why does it need to be a private room when there are many regular tables, but I remembered that Mr. Beaumont is on the top of the upper class. Of course he would want a private and a VIP room even for a simple dinner.

"Mr. Beaumont had never met Miss Analiese, so he won't be able to spot any difference. Just be normal. I'll be waiting outside the room," Peter told me before we reached the door.

I nodded nervously.

"Stay calm. Do you get me, Katherine?"

"Yes, yes, I do."

"Now, go."

When I didn't move, Peter opened the door himself. I inhaled some air with the hope to inhale a little more courage before I finally entered the room.

My heart was pounding hard when I entered. The first thing I saw was a man's back. He was sitting in front of a round table, staring at the overlooking view of the city beyond the glass wall. He didn't move an inch even though I was sure that he figured someone went in.

The sound of my heels echoes in the whole room every step I make. I struggled to keep myself composed. I cussed at the back of my mind when I almost lost balance.

Damn it, Katherine. You can't fail this. You have to get this done smoothly to save your mom. So stop acting like a scared kitten!

Carefully, I went to the seat across Mr. Beaumont's. I relaxed when I was able to sit without tripping or falling because of anxiety.

I cleared my throat. From the table, my gaze went up to Mr. Beaumont. I swallowed my supposed gasp when I saw him.

There was no doubt this man was the one I saw in the picture. Only that, he was way more intense in person. He was wearing a dark suit and a dress shirt without a tie. Probably he only wears it whenever he's at work. His shoulders were broad, and even though he was sitting, it was obvious that he was tall and very manly.

But what intimidates me isn't his good looks. It's his eyes. They are a pair of dark gray orbs that look so cold and lethal as if they could kill. And his face. He had that hard and serious expression as if he never had an emotion, as if he can't feel anything. To me, he looked dangerous. He looked too cold. Ruthless.

"I suppose you are Analiese Racini?" Mr. Beaumont spoke in a baritone. His tone low and calm.

Analiese.

I guess I should get used to being called that way while I'm on this job. It's a lot of work, really. Who would not be weirded out when you are called by other name, anyway?

"Yes."

"I thought you would come with your veil. You've decided to take it off?"

So he has a little knowledge about his fiancée, after all.

"I realized it's about time to show my face to the people especially now that I'm getting married." Luckily, my voice didn't sound nervous. The practice really helps.

"Well, I just wonder. As what I've heard, you spent almost your whole life hiding your face from the public, that's why I'm surprised that you showed yourself to me tonight."

"I was afraid then to show my face because of my scar, but now that it is fully healed, I don't see any reason to hide my face anymore."

Analiese had a scar and went through a trauma that's why she hid her face. At least that was what everyone believed.

"That's good, then."

I diverted my gaze to the wine served in the table. I carefully got a glass and sipped on it, hoping that the wine would somehow ease the anxiety.

Limit the words.

That was what Peter reminded me. Analiese doesn't like much talking, so I better shut my mouth and just talk when I'm asked.

"Have you already picked a dress for the wedding?"

I don't know if Analiese had already picked one, but...

"I will pick one tomorrow," I just said even though I really don't have an idea how their wedding preparation works.

He nodded and sipped on his wine without taking his eyes off me. His look was dark and vicious, I could feel shivers down my spine.

"When will you move out?"

That got me confused. Move out? What did he mean by that? I wasn't informed by Peter about this so I don't know how to answer him.

"What... do you mean?"

His eyebrow slightly rose. "You are moving to my house before the wedding, that's why I'm asking you when will you move out from your father's house."

I felt offended even he was really not talking to Katherine but to Analiese. Why would he want her to move in with him even they are not married yet? It should be after the wedding!

"Why? You don't want to live with me?" he asked, he probably read my expression.

I bit the insides of my lower lip, reminding myself that I should not speak as Katherine but as Analiese. I should not be the aggressive me and calm my temper.

"No, not that I want to live with you. It's just, isn't it right to get done with the wedding first before we live together?"

If he badly needs a woman to warm his bed, then why can't he just rent a woman? Or he can just ask any of his admirers. I'm sure with the looks and wealth like his, he won't even have to lift a finger to make a woman serve him the way he wants. I don't care if he will see another woman while were at it, I even think that's better.

Though, if I let him do that... would that be too unfair in Analiese's part?

But she doesn't like him, so why would she care?

"I understand your concern, but if you move to my house before the wedding, you will have your own room. I just want you in my house so we can know each other better. As you see, it's our first meeting and our wedding is just a few days away. I figure that this way, we can spend a little time together. I hope you get my point?"

So his reason is not the same as the reason I thought. I relaxed.

"Oh. I do get it now. I'm sorry if I misunderstood you." I smiled a little, showing the kind image of Analiese.

"It's all right. Just tell me if you've already decided what date will you move out so I can send my men to assist you."

But I'm sure Mr. Racini has enough men to assist me.

I didn't say that and just started eating when the food was served.

"How old are you again?"

I lifted my gaze. My pounded fast. It's always that way when I'm about to lie. Mr. Beaumont has little to no knowledge about Analiese but I can't slip. Successful businessmen like him are smart. They always notice inconsistencies.

"Uh, twenty-three." I looked away and drank some water.

"You sure? You look younger."

I almost got choked. I put the water down and looked at him. He was staring at me intently. My stomach churned.

"Maybe because my height is average and I'm slender."

His pursed lips curved a little. It was just very quick, though. The next second, his face was back to being serious again.

"Good, because I don't want to marry a woman more than five years younger than me."

Get an old hag you can marry, then!

The hell I care anyway. As if I'm his real fiancée. Analiese is twenty-three and he won't know my age, so that won't be a problem.

"Had you thought about where we can spend our honeymoon?"

I got speechless. Honeymoon, really? We barely even know each other and he's already thinking about that?

I drank some water before I composed myself to give him my answer.

"Actually, I haven't thought about that. But if you have a place in your mind, there is no problem with me."

"I will decide about that, then."

I nodded and continued eating silently. I sensed his glances and I don't know why his look felt strange. Did he sensed something wrong? It's not possible, right? It supposed to be his first meeting with Analiese, so there's no way he could notice something.

"Fix all your matters as soon as possible. I want a child after the wedding."

My jaw dropped. What the hell did he say?